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ESSAY ON SLAVERY, 



REASONABLE PROPOSITION MADE HOW TO DISPENSE WITH IT. 



WITH A BRIEF INVESTIGATION OF WHAT IS TERMED CIVILIZED LIFE, 

SHOWING UNMASKED, WITHOUT COLOURING, A PICTURE OF 

SOME OF ITS PRACTICES AND RESULTS. 



" WHAT IS A MAN PROFITED IV HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLK WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN 80C1 ?" — 5IAT. XVI. 26. 

LET OS ENDEAVOtIR TO IMITATE THE GOOD PHYSICIAN, WHO HAVING DISCOVERED TBK CADSE OF SICKNESS, H0NE8TIT 
AND SKILFULLY ENDEAVOURS TO EFFECT A CJIJtS. 



BY ANDREW CAFFREY. 



^"tSFakkT^D, born and brought up in "civilized" society, are, physically tnd 
morally speaking, with some exceptions, in a far worse condition than were the 
Aborigines of this and many other countries, before thes. countries were in- 
vaded by the "civilized," who, having invented more destructive weapons 
of warfare than were used by those who still remained in a primitive state of 
nature, carried death and desolation amongst them, transported great numbers 
to work in slavery in other countries where they had annihilated the inhabi- 
tants, and reduced all that could not escape, into the lowest state possible of 
misery and degradation; took possession of their lauds, and encouraged people 
to emigrate from Europe to settle on them, many of whom did not understand 
any thing more about it, than that they were told that there " were savages in 
the country, who, if they caught them, would kill them." 

To raise enough of produce for their own consumption did not suflRce; arti- 
ficial wants were imagined and encouraged, that of money in particular, the 
use of which might have been dispensed with; and to supply which, and to 
live entirely without labour, (a reasonable amount of exercise in which, is said 
by skilful doctors to add beauty to an invigomted frame.) ships were sent to 
the coast of Africa, to decoy, kidnap, and to barter for, and buy the people of 
that country; who were chained down between decks for a long passiige, with- 
out the means of cleanliness or comfort, subjected to being struck and whipped, 
without appeal, and without distinction to age or sex. 

It is immaterial in this case, whether the black man, or the red man, or the. 
white, was the first or the last made, whether the descendants of Ham or of 

\ 



Abraham. The judiruients proQounccii agaiust the workers of iniquity, is 
proof sufficient to convince all sober and conscientious people who feel an ab- 
horrence at, and are strongly opposed to acts of cruelty being committed, that 
God has implanted in every sane mind that will acknowledge it, this same evi- 
dence of his will. It is thought and expressed as such by some people, that 
"Africans are the descendants of 'Cain,'" and that "black is the mark by 
which to distinguish them." It would be as reasonable to say, without proof, 
that the feathers on some birds were turned black for a similar offence. It 
amounts, therefore, to a mere proposition, without any permanent ground for 
argument or discussion. From this, however, it may be inferred that there 
are many vague sayings made use of, even among white people, in regard to 
each other having a pernicious tendency, as for instance; "Those who are not 
with us, are against us." Here let us refresh our memory by a quotation from 
the life of "Girard, the rich banker of Philadelphia," "whose aid solicited, 
was often bounteously bestowed to applicants of various denominations of Chris- 
tian professors," although not a professing Christian himself. In regard to him 
and many others who could be quoted for their benevolence, example went 
before precept. That saying, therefore, often applied for uncharitable pur- 
poses, cannot be reconciled with reason and common sense, as being by any 
means universally correct. 

As human beings on whom our Creator has bestowed the faculties of reason 
and sound judgment, with conscience for a monitor to warn us against doing 
what is wrong; it is evident and convincing proof to those who are willing to 
be convinced, that however we may endeavour to hide, to forget, or to bury in 
oblivion by stupifying the senses, or by any means whatever, any wicked and 
cruel actions of which we are wilfully guilty, we are nevertheless held respon- 
sible by Ilim who cannot be deceived or cheated; and with feelings of sym- 
pathy and deep rcgrec that such awful occurrences should have to be answered 
for as the horrible cruelties inseparable from a state of slavery, let us pause 
and ask ourselves the question, how are all these sins and miseries to be atoned 
for, thus entailed on the world, and how far may we be considered as guilty 
partisans in the course of events, although not having any direct hand in it, 
for allowing our white brethren to practise it? It is urged in some cases of 
cruelty, as an excuse for it, "that we are commanded to increase and multi- 
ply;" but surely not by cutting off and other barbarous acts of cruelty, which 
contradicts the term, and is a direct violation of the sacred ties of friendship, 
love, "charity and humanity." None of these cruelties have ever been en- 
couraged or sanctioned by myself. And some other people in some countries, 
having become enlightened in regard to a system injurious to human nature 
in its evil tendencies, and revolting to the feelings of humanity, have wisely 
abolished it, and wa.shed their hands clean of its stains. And we who are op- 
posed to it, feel a conviction that not their conscience is consulted, who prac- 
tise it, but their avaricious disposition, and their devotion to the lust of the 
world and mammon. It has been, and I believe is still urged, that an "in- 
creasing population in the world, creates an increasing demand for such articles 
of consumption as slave labour produces." Are we then to suppose that ia 
proportion to the still fast increasing number of free, there must be a propor- 
tional number of the slave pcjpulation? It would not, I think, be out of place 
U) make a reference to the Bible account of the "plagues" with which "Pha- 
raoh" was visited, for holding the children of Israel in bondage. It is there- 
fore very reasonable to suppose that a heavy judgment awaits those of the pre- 
sent day, as well as those of days gone by. For any to say they do not con- 
sider it a "crime " to be guilty of extreme barbarity, in forcing away from their 
native homes, parents, brothers, and sisters : children also separated never to 



*Vaneet again; uud all in the most hearl-reudinj^ and hurd-lieurttd niannL-r whipped 
■* and chained, and many of whom ''sicken and are thniwii ovirboard" to die. 

It is recorded of a "slave siiip having several hundred slaves on board," 
bein<i; "pursued by an auti-slavo ship," and that liudinj; they would be taken, 
and fearing the consequence of the law, if taken with slaves on board, which 
now makes it piracy; in the most cold-hearted cruelty, buried all the evi- 
dence they could of their guilt, by heaving the poor slaves iuU.) the sea, the 
weight of whose chains soon sunk them to the bottom. May it not be said 
with shame and deep regret, that in a country producing such monsters, there 
must be something wrong? 

When a subject of such vital importance as that of the slave trade, is under- 
taken for examination, the investigation should be impartial and thorough, as 
far as it goes. And I hope it will not be counted sacrilegious to say, that 
which is a well known fact, that before this country became civilized, no such 
demonstration as that of slavery was known or made in it. To say that we 
copied it from, and followed the example (in establishing it,) of another coun- 
try that has given it up, and not following the example of giving it up too, is 
equal to saying, "we have done that which we ought not to have done, and left 
that undone which we ought to do." The "Buccaneers" of America were a 
collection of desperadoes, such like, as if now living, would be likely to embark 
in the obnoxious trade. The Crusaders were an innocent people, comparatively 
speaking, as in their attempt to retake Jerusalem, they were actuated by an 
honest belief that they were doing what was right. But that consolation falls 
not to the lot of the slaveholder. And what security have we besides the law? 
What confidence can we place in a man that will, after what has been told of 
suffering, hold his fellow-man in chains and slavery ? 1 say what security have 
we that such a man would not consign his fellow-white-man also into bond- 
age? 

It has been said by slaveholders, that their " slaves are better cared for than 
are the people of the free States,", by their governors, and as it may result in 
some good, let us investigate a little into this subject also : as, properly speak- 
ing, there is some coincidence between free and slave labour in some cases, 
more especially so in this country, both being introduced about the same pe- 
riod. Both have rapidly increased in numbers, with an unceasing demand 
for more. The machinist and some others, when "trade is brisk," can, with 
economy, support a family, and if otherwise "fortunate" can save up a sum of 
money; and some have acquired riches by their carefulness and industry. 
These riches are not calculated to make them feel happier than they might 
feel in the simple, but comfortable and convenient cottage. But there in grim 
aspect, on the other hand, stand the poor-houses and the prisons, seeming to 
say with a sulphurous breath, and through lips besmeared with blood, come 
here if you dare? I have heard it said, and seen it in print, that the "disci- 
pline in prisons is not so severe as in poor-houses." I do not wish to try the 
experiment — having from necessity had quite too much proof of the want of 
humanity in poor-house-hospitals. And we having on record accounts of keep- 
ers being murdered by prisoners, do not appear to be any enticing invitation 
to them. 

Vanity on the one side, and inhumanity on the other, in those two miserable 
abodes, may be counted as being the principal causes of all the sin and suffer- 
ing in the world; and is therefore owing to the mismanagement of mankind 
amongst themselves, though the blame is attached to the "Wicked One," and 
often profanely to the Almighty himself, for allowing mankind to do those 
wrongs he has forbidden them to do by that conscience which he has implanted 
within them, if they would obey its dictates. There are now many thousands 



of free coloured people in the free States, and also many thousands of white 
people, who have no employment during: a great part of the year, and who are 
in want of many necessaries of life, for cleanliness, health, and comfort; and 
who would be both able and willing, for a fair remuneration of pay, to do all 
the labour now performed by slaves. Sober men, properly clothed and dieted, 
properly bedded and rested, with the most proper hours for labour selected; iu 
every way good encouragement given, without " driving," and they would efl'ect 
wonders, with a convincing proof that would suppress the wavering and puny 
opinion that it cannot be done Slaveholders, try it with a determination to 
succeed, and you will not fail. There will be no occasion for task-masters to 
watch them work; they will work better and feel better satisfied without them; 
and being sober men, they will be intelligent; and a few directions given in 
turn to them, that none may assume the office of dictator permanently, with 
encouragement to be peaceable and improving, will be of great additional service. 
With a man or woman who can be satisfied with a reasonable amount of profit 
from a reasonable amount of labour, this proposed arrangement, if managed 
properly, cannot fail. Let no one that takes intoxicating liquor, have any 
thing to do with its management, or there will be faults made out, where there 
are none in reality, and which are silly, as they often create confusion, and 
tend to no good purpose. If any wish to know where are the thousands want- 
ing good employment, and good homes, even now let the slave laws be abolished, 
and the standard be raised, not to deceive, but to carry out to the very letter, 
this proposition for a proof. Smoking of good tobacco allowed, and no danger 
of the climate to men in good health under such regulations. 

By following this plan, there would be an end of "slavery" in this country, 
now so much noted for it throughout the world. There is then an alternative. 
Under a long established rule of what is called civilized life, many dreadful in- 
consistencies, the very reverse of it, have been, and are still practised and tole- 
rated. The world contains multitudes of poor people, by whose labour the food 
and many other necessaries of life are produced; yet they are at the mercy of 
those, generally during some period of their life, who are cruel enough to add 
to their sufferings, by torturing them from a bad disposition. How unlike the 
"Good Samaritan," are sadly, too many people, even sometimes among those 
from whom better is, and ought to be expected. Brutality begets brutality, 
although kindness is repaid by some with ingratitude. But if slavery is con- 
tinued, I will not undertake to say what may be the consequences thereof, to 
this country or to the world; and as I think my advice is both reasonable and 
good on that subject, I hope it will not be despised on the grounds of my not 
being a rich man. 



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